Thumbs up for Buffalo's return?

MANTECA -- Eric Reis isn't ready to give Alex Martinez's status two thumbs up, but the Manteca coach suggests his senior quarterback may be close to returning. Just in time, too.

Martinez missed last Friday's 28-7 victory at Sierra High with an injury to the thumb on his throwing hand. Instead, he watched understudy Ryan Fox direct a show of force that pushed the Buffaloes to 6-0 and 3-0 in Valley Oak League play.

Martinez banged his thumb on the helmet of a Weston Ranch player a week earlier and remains day to day.

The Buffaloes — the Bee's fourth-ranked large-school team — host Sonora (5-1, 3-0) on Friday in a crucial separation game.

"Alex is doing everything he can to get back on the field," Reis said. "He was having an all-league type of season before the injury. Our expectations are when he returns he will keep the level of performance."

With Fox filling in, Manteca leaned on its power game against the Timberwolves.

In all, eight Buffalo players garnered a rushing attempt, churning out nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns. That's a far cry from Manteca's 2010 business model, when tailback Robert Ladiges (275 carries, 1,650 yards) was often options 1 and 2.

"We ate up a lot of clock," senior Danny Gouveia said.

Four players eclipsed the 40-yard barrier against Sierra, softening Sierra's middle with straight-ahead bursts: Joe Trout had 12 carries for 70 yards; Gouveia had 11 carries for 57 yards; Cameron Harvey 10 carries for 67 yards; and Jamontee Jones nine carries, 44 yards.

Fox (3 of 7, 45 yards) didn't give the Buffaloes much balance, but he didn't have to. He did dial up a perfect pass to Matt Kuhnlenz with 2.4 seconds left, finding the tight end wide open over the middle to make it 21-0 at the half.

However, he had just one completion to wide receiver Eric Ceja (23 catches, 493 yards, six TDs).

"Each game our game plan adapts to our team and the team we are playing," said Reis, whose team has outscored its opponents 220-66 and is averaging 36.7 points per game. "Last week's game plan was to play power football against Sierra."

When healthy, Martinez makes Manteca as versatile and as explosive as any team in the conference.

The 5-foot-11 senior has been remarkably efficient, completing 68 percent of his passes (51 of 75) for 817 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions.

He's topped 200 yards twice and was well on his way to another big evening against Weston Ranch when he was injured in the first half. Martinez was 4 of 6 for 77 yards and two touchdowns and then spent the final 24 minutes of a 48-14 rout on the sidelines with a bag of ice draped over his thumb.

"Football is a physical sport," Reis said. "Injuries are a part of the game. We try to emphasis the importance of team and not making excuses. When a player goes down the next guy has a responsibility to keep the standard."

And Fox has.

Still, the Buffaloes may need Martinez's magic in this stretch run. Manteca will face its two toughest tests over the next three weeks, beginning with Friday's home bash with Sonora (5-1, 3-0), No. 6 in the Bee's small-school rankings.

Large-school No. 2 Oakdale (6-0, 3-0) looms two weeks later.

"This week is our homecoming. We have been on the road four out of the six games this year, so we are excited to be playing at home," Reis said. "(Sonora) is 5-1 and have another really solid team."

Friday's duel will determine the conference's No. 1 contender to Oakdale, the defending champion. Manteca travels to The Corral on Oct. 28, while Sonora welcomes its arch rival on the regular season's final Friday, Nov. 11.

"This is the VOL," Gouveia said. "We can't afford to lose a game."

And Martinez doesn't want to miss another moment.

"Alex is dying to play," Reis said. "We will see how the thumb is feeling this week."

James Burns is Regional Sports Content Editor of The Modesto Bee and Merced Sun-Star. He can be reached at jburns@modbee.com or (209) 578-2324.ASK ESTRADA

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